Super Bowl ad
My attempt at a short addition to the boxboy universe! Karen Renford belongs to @ashintheairlikesnow. Also, Sparrow is meant to be autistic, so let me know if I described anything badly there!
Tw for: abuse justifications, manipulation, modern slavery
(Image: The Whumpees-R-Us logo in the middle of a plain white screen.)
Speaker: Why is our logo orange?
(Image: An animation of an orange phoenix rising from flames.)
Speaker: The phoenix, which rises from ashes to greatness.
(Image: A dirty looking young man in rags sits in a fetal position on the side of the street, looking sad.)
Speaker: Just like we help people rise from poverty
(Image: A close up of the man’s face.)
Speaker: And squalor
(Image: Same young man, now clean and dressed nicely, happily cooks in a beautiful kitchen.)
Speaker: To a role where they can assist others
(Image: The young man sitting on a couch in a well-decorated room and watching tv, snuggled up against a somewhat older, protective man)
Speaker: While living in comfort.
(Image: Whumpees-R-Us headquarters) Speaker: Here at Whumpees-R-Us, we are proud to be
(Image: The founders of Whumpees-R-Us sitting at a table, talking seriously to each other)
Speaker: The innovators (Image: Director Renford directing a meeting)
Speaker: The designers
(Image: Three handlers on a lunch break, talking and laughing)
Speaker: And the builders
(Image: The Whumpees-R-Us logo in the middle of a plain white screen.)
Speaker: Of the phoenix.
(Image: Orange bold text on a plain white screen. Reads: Whumpees-R-Us: We box ‘em, you buy ‘em.)
Speaker: We box ‘em, you buy ‘em.
Ivy finished reading aloud and put her papers down on the coffee table. She looked at Sparrow, hazel eyes sparkling. “What do you think, my bird?”
Sparrow hesitated, rubbing his fingers together nervously. He thought the ad oversimplified a lot of things, but he supposed there was only so much his master could do with thirty seconds to a minute of airtime. And he was lucky to have this opportunity, after all. There couldn’t be many owners who would want someone like him. A question might be the safest reply. “Do you think Miss Renford will be available for filming? She is usually quite busy.”
Ivy smiled slightly. “I’m sure she’ll make time. This is a Super Bowl ad. And she is the Director of Client Success, after all. But did you think it was convincing? Creative?”
Sparrow nodded. “Oh, yes… I never could have thought of the phoenix comparison.”
Ivy’s grin widened. “I know, that was the best idea I’ve had for a while! I thought of it during our fantasy movie marathon last weekend.”
His mouth inched towards a smile at her enthusiasm. “Oh, really?”
“Yep! It reminds me of you. I know how much you like birds.”
Sparrow’s smile widened. He had developed quite the interest in them since she named him after one. They reminded him of himself, fragile, small creatures. The only difference was that they could fly away whenever they liked.
Each morning, he looked outside his window and watched the birds. When he had nothing better to do, he thought about all the kinds of birds he had seen so far. Whenever he was upset or frightened, he looked outside the nearest window, searching for birds.
He was sure that if he didn’t have a master to control him, he’d have filled the house with more birds than he could afford or care for. It was likely he had those kinds of habits before he signed himself over. Otherwise, why else wouldn’t he have been able to care for himself?
“Thanks… I’m glad you noticed.”
“Of course! And of course, you’ll act in this for me, right? As the young man?”
Sparrow’s smile faded. His mind raced with confusion. Why was she asking for his opinion? Wasn’t he not allowed to say no anyway? “Don’t I have to?”
Ivy’s face grew suddenly serious. She leaned forward. “Just say yes.”
Sparrow squeezed his arms. Why did he have to screw that up? Would she punish him for it? He hoped he was responding right this time. “Oh… okay. Yes.”
She beamed again. “Good!” Ivy put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. The pressure felt bruising to him, even though her touch was light. He tensed, barely keeping himself from wincing and pulling away.
“Will… I have to be on set at the same time as Director Renford?” He rubbed his fingers together more, desperately hoping for her to say no.
Ivy shrugged. “Possibly. Possibly not. Why does it matter?”
“Oh… it’s just… my training of what to do around her is deeply ingrained. It may be hard to act if she’s there.” He rambles, hoping his explanation makes sense. It’s technically true— when she’s there, he has no power to resist the urge to go still and look at the floor until specifically instructed otherwise. He imagined it would be quite the challenge to do anything happily with her there, even cook. And he loved cooking, just about as much as he loved birds.
“Good to know. Then, she won’t be there when we’re filming your section. I make no guarantees for if I’ll take you with me when we’re filming her section. And this is all assuming she approves this draft.”
He looked down and sighed quietly. He didn’t want to see her again at all. But at least there was no risk for him to be punished for poor acting. “Thank you, miss. I am extremely grateful.”
“No problem. Would you be a darling and start dinner?”
He stood up, the worries already starting to fade from his mind. Cooking was the perfect distraction. His fears barely existed when he was preparing a meal. “Of course. What would you like?”
“The completion of the Super Bowl ad draft deserves celebration, doesn’t it, bird?”
Sparrow nodded.
Ivy grinned. “A steak with garlic butter. And mashed potatoes with gravy. And cheesy garlic asparagus.” Sparrow started to leave for the kitchen. Ivy continued. “Oh! And you can make those amazing chocolate-filled beignets! I’ll bring the extras into work to celebrate!”
“Sure thing, miss.” He said as he mentally calculated the needed ingredients.
“Aw! Aren’t I the luckiest to have a boy as good at cooking as you?” She ruffled his hair. He resisted flinching away and forced a smile.
“As lucky as I am to be here, miss.”
He wasn’t sure if he was lucky. But he had to be. There was no other choice.
